By Ogova Ondego
Published October 2, 2013
An exhibition of photographs titled To Wood Not Lost by Ugandan artists Sanaa Gateja and Charles Kamya opens at Alliance Francaise in Nairobi CBD in the evening of October 2, 2013 and runs through November 10, 2013.
Gateja, called the Bead King, joins hands with self-taught sculptor Kamya in an exhibition where bark cloth, recycled paper and chopped wood are turned into objects of art, craft and fashion adorning the ground floor gallery of Alliance Francaise in Nairobi CBD.
Gateja is described as ‘an artist with an extraordinary attitude and relationship to the material he uses as a painter, designer, teacher and innovator.’
Working on bark cloth and beads made from recycled paper, Gateja is recognised for his contribution to poverty alleviation by promoting the art of beads from recycled paper among women communities in Uganda.
Kamya, on the other hand, works in albizia wood recovered from villages in Western Uganda as trees are felled for firewood and charcoal. His elegantly carved abstract sculptures reflect his view of life in Africa.
Being launched in the evening of October 4, 2013 at the same venue will be a music album titled Music of the Turkana.
The ticket to the launch concert that runs between 7.00PM and 10.00PM will be Sh500 that will also fetch the bearer a copy of the music CD from Loiyangalani Stars, one of the finalist groups from the Spotlight on Kenyan Music Volume 5 compilation.
Music of the Turkana, produced by Ketebul Music of Nairobi, features traditional Turkana songs set with contemporary harmonies giving the music a powerful lift while remaining true to the traditional rhythms.
The Lomunkuny Lowale and Longori Ewoi-led musicians are said to have been discovered during the Spotlight project’s Northern Kenyan journey. Their debut performance outside of Loiyangalani first took place in the Alliance Française gardens in July 2011.
Coming hot on the heels of the Music of the Turkana album launch and concert on October 5, 2013 at 7.00PM is Nique Baraka and Meta Meta Band. The ticket, once more, is Sh500 per head.
Nique Baraka, who has performed with leading Kenyan musicians such as Chizi, Hellen Mtawali, Webi and Zidi the band, has been singing professionally for at least five years. He is gifted with a musical voice, music-writing and arrangement skills. This is his first concert at Alliance Francaise.
